Roof structure for radiation shelter



Sept. 21, 1965 E. J. HAYES ROOF STRUCTURE FOR RADIATION SHELTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1962 9 INVENTOR. Zx/dfi JZ' flayea,

United States Patent 3,206,896 ROOF STRUCTURE FOR RADIATION SHELTER Edward J. Hayes, Livonia, Micl1., assignor to Kelsey- Hayes Company, Romulus, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 181,238 1 Claim. (Cl. 5224) This invention relates to radiation shelters and more particularly to a prefabricated roof structure for a radiation shelter adapted for individual home installation.

With the potential danger of fall-out as a result of atomic detonation, various types of radiation shelters have been proposed. Perhaps the two primary considerations involved in the construction of such shelters are effectiveness and cost. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roof structure for a radiation shelter which is effective to shield its occupants from the harmful effects of a relatively high degree of radiation present in the surrounding atmosphere.

In order to be able to provide radiation shelters at a reasonable cost, a prefabricated type of structure, such as that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 140,118, filed September 22, 1961, can be used. The roof st ucture comprising the present invention is usable with such a prefabricated structure, thus providing an effective radiation shelter at a relatively low cost. Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a roof structure for a radiation shelter, which roof structure may be fabricated on a high production basis, sold in a disassembled and a relatively compact package and thereafter con- Veniently assembled by persons not possessing a high degree of mechanical ability of construction experience. Of course, the roof structure of this invention can be utilized with a variety of types of radiation shelters and hence should not be considered to be limited in application to any one particular type.

With the roof structure of this invention, a relatively inexpensive type of radiation absorbing or insulating material can be utilized; therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide a roof structure for a radiation shelter which permits the use of sand, gravel, etc. or other inexpensive, readily available materials as the radiation absorbing or insulating component.

The roof structure of the present invention is made of a light Weight construction possessing sufiicient structural strength to protect the occupants from falling debris, etc. Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide a roof structure for a radiation shelter which possesses sufficient structural strength to protect the occupants therein from falling debris.

In the prefabricated radiation structure described in my copending application listed above, a modular type of construction is utilized thereby facilitating the construction of radiation shelters of various sizes depending upon cost and space limitations. The roof structure of the present invention readily lends itself for such a modular type construction and thus provides for a roof structure of any desired size depending upon the size of the radiation shelter desired. Therefore, it is still another object of the present invention to provide a radiation shelter utilizing readily standardized members whereby radiation shelters of varying sizes and shapes may be constructed from the same basic components.

The roof structure of the present invention is made of a construction whereby the quantity of material is most effectively used. Therefore, it is still another object of the present invention to provide a roof structure for a radiation shelter having an optimum structural strength for the quantity of materials utilized.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent de 3,206,896 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 scription and the appended claims, taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a roof structure for a radiation shelter embodying the features of this invention in which some parts of the roof structure are shown in section and some parts shown broken away and which roof structure is shown in conjunction with a modular type shelter construction such as described in my copending application mentioned above;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the roof structure shown in FIGURE 1 taken substantially along the line 22 therein; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the roof structure shown in FIGURE 1 taken substantially along the line 33 therein.

Looking now to the drawings, a roof structure embodying the features of this invention and generally indicated by the numeral 10 is shown as a part of a radiation shelter having a wall construction 12 which can be made in accordance with the teachings in my copending application referred to above and which is of a modular construction having a plurality of individual panel assemblies 14. Only three modularly constructed walls are used in the construction shown in FIGURE 1 with the fourth wall 16 being one wall of the basement or other location in which the radiation shelter is disposed.

The roof structure 10 is comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending panel members 18 each having a plurality of substantially V-shaped longitudinally extending channels 20 (FIGURE 2) transversely spaced from each other and interconnected by means of flat connecting web portions 22. In the preferred embodiment each channel member 18 is formed with four such V-shaped channels 20 separated by three web portions 22 and ter minating at opposite sides in relatively short flat flanges 26. A plurality of relatively small, compared to the depth of the V-shaped channels 20, and longitudinally spaced ribs 24 extend transversely through each of the web portions 22 and through each of the flanges 26. A plurality of T-shaped beams or bars 28 are constructed of a substantially heavier gauge than the gauge of the panels 18 and provide support for the roof structure 10 in a manner to be seen.

Looking again to FIGURE 1, the upper portion of the modular wall construction .12 terminates in an inverted U-shaped channel member 30 having its flanges extendin g downwardly and overengaging the sides of the modular wall structure 12. The plurality of T-shaped bars 28 are placed longitudinally across opposite walls of the wall structure 12 with their upright portions 29 extending upwardly and are supported at opposite ends upon the channel members 30. Subsequently, panel members 18 are disposed longitudinally across the wall structure 12 with the upright portion 29 of each of the T-shaped bars 28 matably disposed in longitudinal supporting relationship within one of the V-shaped channels 20. In assembling the roof 10, adjacent panel members 18 are placed with adjacent last ones of the V-shaped channels 20 matably overengaging each other, thus providing for a reinforced structure at each joint.

Disposed at the longitudinal extremities of each panel member 18 are a plurality of slotted apertures 32 which are located in alignment with bores 34 in the channel member 30 (FIGURE 3) whereby the channel members 18 can be permanently bolted, riveted or otherwise secured to the channel members 30 at either side. The slots 32 provide means whereby any slight dimensional deviation or misalignment can be compensated. Thus note that the panel members 18 are longitudinally supported by means of the T-section beams 28 and that that assembly is secured to the channel members 30 of the wall construction 12 in the manner as described.

By using a relatively heavy gauge T-section 28, the panel section 18 can be made of light gauge material. Bending in a vertical, longitudinally extending plane is substantially resisted by means of the V-shaped channel-s 20 and,by means of the T-shaped beams 28. Bending in a substantially vertical plane extending transversely is resisted by means of the plurality of transversely extending beads or ribs 24.

Thereof structure 10 is provided with a side wall construction which is comprised of a plurality of flat side wall members 36a-36c each terminating at its uppermost end in an outwardly extending flange 38 which adds rigidity to the structure. The flat side members 36a-36c have a plurality of slots 40 disposed adjacent the lower edge which can be placed in alignment with .a plurality of bores 42 in the outer, downwardly extending flange of the U-shaped channel 30 whereby the side members 36a- 360 can be bolted, riveted or otherwise secured to the wall structure 12. In order that the extension of the side walls 36a-36c above the panels 18 can be varied to suit individual requirements, four vertically spaced rows 39a 39d of slots40 are provided. Those rows (39b-39d in FIGURE 3) of slots 40 not used can be covered by strips of tape 44. I

The side wall members 3611 can be provided with a vertically extending, outwardly turned flange 45 for joining the end of that member to the wall 16. Angle iron member 45a can be used to join the corners formed by the juncture 'of the wall members 36a and 36b and by the juncture of the wall members 36b and 36c (FIGURE 1).

The shelter of FIGURE 1 has the structure for the entrance shown in phantom and is generally indicated by the numeral 46. The exact structure can be varied to suit individual need-s and desires. Thus is can be seen that the plurality of panel members 18 along with the T- shaped channel members 28 define the bottom portion of a roof structure while the side walls 36 enclose this bottom portion thereby defining an enclosure in which sand, gravel, or other type of material for absorbing the radiation can be deposited. Note that by varying the number of panels 18, roofs varying in transverse dimension can be provided; by simply varying the longitudinal dimension of the panels 18, roofs varying longitudinally can be provided. Likewise, by varying the length of the side wall members 36, roof structures of varying dimension can be enclosed.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:

A roof structure covering a shelter, said shelter being defined by a plurality of upright walls, said roof structure comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending panels each having a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, integrally formed inverted V-shaped channels and each being disposed upon and supported at opposite ends by opposite ones of the walls with adjacent ones of said panels having the adjacent terminal channels matably engaging each other; a plurality of inverted T- shaped supporting bars disposed between and supported upon the above mentioned opposite ones of the walls and each located with its upright portion disposed in longitudinally supporting relationship within said channels on said plurality of panels for additionally longitudinally supporting said panels; said T-shaped bars and said V-shaped channels having substantially the same depth for defining a generally smooth surface contiguous with an upper surface of said opposite ones of the walls, and a plurality of interconnected wall members connected to the walls of the shelter and extending upwardly beyond said panels to References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 55,891 6/66 Norwood 8 704,771 7/02 Bailey 50384 840,016 1/07 Schlafly 50384 1,114,639 10/14 Oberer 5053 2,052,346 8/36 Garrett 189l 2,642,017 6/53 Cooper et al 50-43 3,064,392 11/62 Avril 50-289 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner. 

